This article is from page 6 of the 2013-02-12 edition of The Clare People. OCR mistakes are to be expected so download the original SWF or the rendered page 6 JPG
CLARE has one of the highest rates of sheep kills by dogs in Ireland, according to new figures released by the Irish Farmers Association (IFA). Figures compiled by the IFA reveal that Clare recorded the sixth highest number of sheep kills in Ireland last year, despite having a relatively low sheep stock compared to other counties.
According to Clare Dog Warden, Frankie Coote, the number of sheep kills recorded by the IFA is only the tip of the iceberg as most kills are never reported. “There would be an awful lot more attacks than that in Clare. That is only the number reported to the IFA. The real number is likely to be much much higher.
“Just four years ago we had 42 sheep killed by two dogs in one night down in Shannonbanks. That was € 5, 500 worth of damage in one night. We were lucky enough to catch the own- ers in that case and they had to pay for the damage done. The dog owner is always liable in that situation.”
Frankie also urged dog owners to be sure that their animals are secured properly over the lambing season – even if there are no sheep flocks nearby and your dog does not have a history of violence.
“Lambs have been born all over place in the last two weeks and it is inevitable that dogs will attack sheep. Dogs will travel; if they hear sheep far off in the distance they will travel to find them,” continued Frankie.
“Dogs will come out of towns, out of villages, out of housing estates and look for sheep, but also from farm houses. The law states that dogs must be on their own property and secure.
“All dogs will attack sheep, given the opportunity. Everybody thinks that their own dog won’t attack a sheep but the reality is that 95 per cent of dogs will. Dogs gather in packs and the wildness come out with them.”